Buxus mollicula W. W. Sm.

Shrubs, ca. 3 m tall; young branches subtetragonous, ca. 2 mm in diam., pubescent or glabrous. Petiole 1-2 mm, pubescent; leaf blade ovate, oblong, or elliptic, rarely oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 × 1.2-1.8(-2) cm, leathery, densely velutinous on both surfaces, base broadly cuneate or cuneate, margin slightly revolute, apex rounded or obtuse, with retuse or mucronate tip; midrib elevated on both surfaces, lateral veins obscure. Inflorescences axillary, shortly terete, ca. 1 cm; rachis ± elongate, 3-4 mm, densely velutinous; bracts ovate-triangular, ca. 1.5 mm, acute, abaxially pilose. Male flowers 6-8, sessile; tepals orbicular, ca. 2 mm, abaxially convex, pilose, adaxially concave, glabrous; sterile pistil very short. Female flowers: tepals ovate-triangular, 3.5-4 mm; ovary and style equal in length; stigma linear-cordate, decurrent to base of style. Capsule ovoid-globose, ca. 1 cm, shining; persistent style ca. 3 mm, erect, apex recurved.

SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.

● Thickets, river valleys; 1700-2100 m.